hille



5 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

P. HILLE. Machine for Cleaning and-Polishing Boots and Shoes.

No. 243,258. Patented June 21,1881.

(No Model.) '5"Sheets--Sheet 2.

P. HILLE.

-Ma0hine for Cleaning agndPolishing Boots and Shoes.

No. 243,258. Patented June 21,1881.

Nv PETERS, Fhnkwuxhu n her. walhin mn. 11!;

.(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. I

v P; HILLE. Machine for Cleaning and Polishing-Boots andShoes.

Patented June 21,1881.

' "H l Illl I HIHJIIII vfttari. Jag/era Z02? PawZIi ZZe N. Finns.Phohrlj hogmpher. Washington. a. c

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

P. HILLB. 4 Machine for Cleaning andPolishing Boots and Shoes. No.243,258. Patented June 21,1881.

ll'i Inna-n1 .flfifewif. Ir avezzfor,

aw/ V PadZZv'ZZa, 1 M 6 y/ M15851,

(No Model.) 5 sfieet -sheet 5. P. H-ILLE. Machine for Cleaning andPolishing Boots and Shoes.

Patented June 21,1881.

l'iavera iai '1 Zaz! 6 EL lie,

%M/ K 15/ 042mm; W 6

N. PETERS Phoml'lhn n he UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC PAUL HILLE, 0FUNION, NEwJEEsEY.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,258, dated June 21,1881.

Application filed December 30, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL HILLE, a citizen of the United States, residingat the town of Union, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey,have invented new and useful Improvem ents in Machines forOleanin g and P01- ishing Boots and Shoes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of boot and shoe cleaning andpolishing machines designed especially for operating upon boots andshoes upon the feet of the wearers. Its object is to facilitate theapplication of blacking to the proper brushes, and generally toconstruct a strong, simple, efficient, and cheap machine, which iseasily operated and not liable to get out of order.

To these ends it consists in certain novel constructions, combinations,and arrangements of devices, which will be hereinafter particularlydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1' is a perspective'view of myimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the implement forapplying blacking and water to the brushes. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the machine. Fig. 4.is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 5 is adetached view of the side-brush carrier. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail viewsof the devices for avoiding the dead-center of the flywheel. Fig. Sis anedge view of the brush carriage and carrier.- Fig. 9 is an inner-sideview of the brush-carriage.

The letter A designates a flat platform, the main portion of whichapproximates in shape and size to an average boot or shoe sole. Thisplatform is supported by suitable legs a a a, and upon its upper side isarranged the footsupport B. The front portion, A, of the platform iswidened, and has a transverse slot, 0,

.forward of which is located a vertical tubular (No model.)

socketed to receive a squared tenon, f, formed on the end of aremovableoperating-shaft, F.

Upon the lower end of the spindle E fits a properly-secured collar, g,from which project laterally the arms G G, to the tips of which arepivoted, respectively, the ends of curved links H, which extendrearwardly and have 7 their other ends pivoted tothe carriages I,

which carry the swinging brush-carriers.

Each of the carriages I consists of a flat plate, from the lower portionof which two pins, 2' '6, project inwardly and carry wheels I, havingperipheral grooves which fit upon the flange a extending downwardly fromand following the contour of the edge of the platform; and from theupper portion of the said plate projects asimilar pin, which carries awheel, I, arranged to roll upon an upwardlyprojecting flange, a, similarto flange a. From the lower edge of the carriage-plate projects a pinupon which is pivoted the link H. It will be seen that when the arms Gare vibrated a reciprocating motion will be communicated through thelinks H to the carriages l, which are guided by the flanges a a alongthe edges of the platform.

Outwardly from the lower portion of each of the carriages project two111 gs, 70, to which are pivoted the side pieces, Z Z, of thebrushcarrier L, which is pressed inwardly by the spring k coiled uponthe pivot, and having one end pressing outward upon the cross-bar l,which connects the side pieces below their pivots. These side piecesmeet at their upper ends, which terminate in a plate, I, projectingoutwardly at a right angle, and having projecting upwardly from it apin, m, upon which is swiveled a plate, on, upwardly from which projectsa bracket, M, to a lug, projecting from the inner face of which ishinged the back of the side brush, N. This brush is formed of two parts,a and n, firmly secured together atright angles to each other, and itmay be turned so that the bristles of either part may extend inwardly ortoward the foot-support, as will be sired, extending into a hole in theplate m, to hold it firmly in position when the bristles of the part aof the side brush are toward the footsupport, and the pin 0 being forthe purpose of entering another hole in the said plate in, to hold itwhen the bristles of the part a of the brush stand inwardly. The lowerends of the bars 0 Oterminate in pins which pass through holes in anoutwardly-projecting portion ofthe cross-bar Z connecting the lowerendsof side pieces, 1, and around these pins, between the ends of the barsand the cross-bar, are arranged spiral springs 0 0, which press the bars0 and O and pins 0 0 upward.

Outwardly from the lower portions of the bars 0 and 0 respectivelyproject lugs O and 0 the upper face of each of which is beveled towardthat of the other.

Outside of the bars 0 and O a lever, I, is pivoted, at about its middle,upon a pin, p,projectin g from the carrier between said bars. The lowerend of this lever carries a triangular cam-plate, P, the rounded pointof which will act upon the beveled faces of the lugs 0 or O to force thebar 0 or O downward, according to the position of the lever, which isautomatically changed by devices which will now be described.

From the upper end of the lever B an arm, P extends outwardly, and asimilar arm, P extends outwardly from a point at the same distance belowthe pivot-pin 11.

To the tubular standard D is pivoted a yoke, Q, the arms Q, of whichextend rearwardly beyond the widened portion of the platform and normally rest upon the same by gravity. Each of these arms carries at itstip a curved platespring, q, andfrom thefree ends of these springsproject rearwardly buffer-plates g, which, when the yoke lies in itsnormal position, stand in the paths of the arms P of the levers P, andwhen in this position will. strike said arms, when the brush-carriagesare moved forward, throwing said arms rearward, and causing thecamplatcs P to strike the beveled faces of the lug O to force the arms 0down and release the plates m from the pins 0. The friction of thebrushes then upon a boot or shoe being operated upon will cause theblacking parts a of the brushes to swing outward as the brush movesrearward, and the polishing parts a to swing inward toward the boot orshoe, causing the plate m to turn to such a position that the pin 0 willengage said plate, the bar 0 being released, and the spring 0 forcing itupward. In this position the polishing parts a of the brushes willcontinue to act upon the boot or shoe as the carriages reciprocate.

When it is desired to apply blacking to the boot or shoe the front partof the yoke is depressed by means presently to be described, raising thearms of said yoke to bring the buffers q in the paths of the upper arms,P of the levers P, throwing said arms rearward and the cam 1? forward,to act upon the lugs O and force arms 0 down to release the plate onfrom pin 0. The friction of the brush will cause the polishing part a toswing rearward or outward as the carriage moves forward, and theblacking-applying parta will swing inward to the boot or shoe, in whichposition it will be locked by the pin 0 engaging with plate m. Whensufficient blacking has been applied the operation is reversed byletting the yoke fall to its normal position.

Immediately to the rear of the tubular standard D, and on opposite sidesof the slot 0, are

short standards 1" 1", between which is pivoted a lever, B, onearm ofwhich extends downward through the slot 0 and another slot in an arm, G,which projects rearwardly under the platform from thejunction ot' thearms G G. The other arm of said lever estends upward a properdistance,and has pivoted to its upperend an arm, S, extendingrearwardly, and having through it an adjusting-screw, s, which bearsupon a shoulder, 8 formed on the lever. A spring, 8 having one endbearing upon the lever and the other upon the arm, forces the latterdownward, and the screw 8 serves to raise it, so that it may be adjustedas required. The arm S carries at its rear end a curved twopart brush,T, the parts tand t of which have flexible elastic backs, which areseparately connected to the arm S, the part if by means of lugsprojecting from its back and pivoted to lugs projecting downward from anadjustable plate, S, attached to the arm, and the part it by means of acurved arm, t project.- ing from its back and pivoted to lugs projectingupward on opposite sides of a fork formed in the end of said adjustableplate, which has a rib upon its upper side fitting and playing in anopen slot formed in the rear end portion of the arm S, a shoulderedthumbscrew, 8, passing through said rib, and serving to hold the plateat the desired adjustment.

The part tof the brush extends forward and downward under the arm S, soas to come in contact with the front portion of a boot or shoe, and aspring, a, bears upon its back to give it an elastic downward pressurewhen in use. The part it extends beyond the end of the arm S, and may beused for applying blacking to the upper portion of the front of a bootor shoe; and to receive blaoking or be moistened, it may be raised fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1, and is held inthis upright position by means of a spring, a, which bears upon the sideof a lug, t projecting from the end of the arm 1 This spring also bearsupon the tip of this lug when the brush is lowered, and thus holds saidpart it down with yielding pressure.

In blaekin g boots and all-leather high shoes the brush T is adjustablerearward, so as to act upon the entire surface of the foot; but in thecase of cloth-topped and low shoes the brush is adjusted forward so asnot to touch the cloth or exposed portion of the socks.

The shaft F is composed of two longitudinal portions, F F, connectednear their diverging-upper ends by a short cross-bar,f, and supportingat their top a transverse handle, F provided with suitable swiveledknobs. Through the short cross-bar f passes a rod, V, which extendsdownward and into a socket in the tenonf, and from this rod an arm,fcurves downwardly and rests upon the forward part of theyoke Q. The yokesupports the rod normally in its uppermost position and a lever, \V,pivoted to the under side of the handle, is used for forcing said roddownward to throw the arms of the yoke upward for the purpose ofreversing the side brushes, as before explained. One end of said leverrests upon the top of the rod and the other is near the end of thehandle, in convenient position to be pressed upward by the finger orthumb of the operator. v

The platform A, with its edge flanges, extends some distance to the rearof the foot-support, and its flanged edges converge so rapidly that theside brushes will be guided to the rear of the foot-support alternately,so that said brushes will both pass nearly around the heel of a boot orshoe being operated upon, and thus a separate heel-brush is renderedunnecessary.

For applying blacking or moisture to the proper brushes I use animplement consisting of a hollow handle, X, carrying at one side of itsend portion a sponge-cu p, X, provided with suitable prongs for holdingthe sponge in place, and having an aperture, to, in its bottomcoincident with a hole in the tube, so that when the sponge is turneddownward water will flow to it. On the opposite side ofthe tube ablackingbox holder, w,is arranged,in which the blacking-box is to beplaced with the uncovered surface of the blacking outward. The tubularhandle is, for convenience, arranged in springholders 2 z, secured tothe top of the shafthandle, and may be readily removed from and replacedin said holders. When the tubular handle is in its holders the surfaceof the blacking will be protected by a box-receiver, a which is securedto the shaft-handle.

In order to give steadiness of motion to the parts a fly-wheel, A ismounted horizontally upon a pivot-pin, a extending downward from aboutthe center of the under side of the platform, and this fly-wheel isconnected by a wristpin, afiand pitman A with a pivot-pin, a, projectingdownward from one of the vibratory arms G. 7

To prevent difticultyin starting the machine from the fly-wheelsstopping on the deadcenter I place upon the pivot-pin a a loose collar,b, having upon its upper edge two shoulders, I) and b between which arib, 0 projects from the pivot-pin a and to a point ofthe periphery ofthe collar opposite one of the shoulders is firmly secured astifl' platespring, D which extends along the upper side ofthe pitman, and betweentwo pins, 6? e projecting therefrom. When the fly-wheel is to berotated, say, in the direction indicated by the arrows, the rib c of thepivot-pin strikes one of the shoulders, b just before the pitman reachesthe forward dead-center of the said wheel, and turns the collar so as tothrow the spring D laterally against the pin 0 thus causing the pitmanto exert sutficient force upon the wrist-pin to carry the wheel beyondthe dead-point;andjust before the wheel reaches the rear dead-center theother shoulder, I), is struck by the rib c forcing the spring in theopposite direction against pin a producing a similar effect, and theaction would be similar, of course, were the rotation in the oppositedirection.

In operating the machine the first step is to apply blacking to theproper brushes, and the foot is then to be placed squarely upon thefoot- -support,with the heel upon the sunken portion formed for it. Thepolishing portions of the brushes being in their operative position, theoperator seizes the handle and oscillates it, causing the side brushesto reciprocate through the movement of the arms G and link H, and thebrush T to reciprocate from side to side by means of the slotted arm Gracting upon the lower arm of the lever B. After two or threereciprocations of the brushes have been made, which will be suflicientto remove dust or mud, the lever W is operated to force down the rod Vand raise the arms of the yoke Q for reversing the side brushes andbringing the blacking-applying portions to the boot or shoe. If a properquantity of blacking has been applied to said parts, a singlereciprocation will be sufficient with the brushes in this position, andthe lever may be then released and the yokearms allowed to fall andagain reverse the brushes to bring the portions a in contact with theboot or shoe, when three or four reciprocations will eEect a highpolish. The portion t of the brush T is raised to receive blacking, whennecessary.

In applying blackin g to theblackin g-brushes I take the tubular handlefromits holders and moisten the brushes with the sponge, and then rubthe surface of the blacking upon them. In order to facilitate thereversal of the side brushes, and to prevent the blacking-applying partfrom interfering with the polishing part, the bristles of the adjacentcorners of the two parts a and n are made shorter than the main brushportions.

By turning the screw 8 the position of the curved brush T may beregulated to suit different-sized boots and shoes.

I, of course, do not confine myself to the precise form and arrangementof the various parts, as it is obvious that these may be greatly variedwithout departing from my invention.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the platform provided withafoot-support and having its edges extended and converging in the rearof said foot-support, of the brush-carriages provided with the sidebrushes, and suitable devices for reciprocating and guiding saidcarriages along said edges, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the platform provided with the upwardly anddownwardly projecting flanges a a along its edges, of thebrush-carriages provided with grooved wheels arranged to traverse and beguided by said flanges, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with thebrush-carriages, of the swinging resilientbrush-carriers, the reversible swiveling brushes, each formed of tworigidly connected parts, it and n, and automatic devices for reversingsaid brushes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combinatiomwith the bruslrcarriage I, swinging brush-carrier,suitably supported spring-barsO 0, terminating in pins 0 0, and

provided with the beveled-faced lugs O and the swiveling perforatedplate 121/, carrying the reversible brush, the lever P, carrying the caml? and arms P and P and devices for operating said lever, substantiallyas described.

5. The combinatiomwith the platform A, of suitably supported sidebrushes mounted on the brush-carriages, the vibratory arms connected tosaid carriages, the lever B, having its lower arm extended through theslot in arm G connected to said vibratory arms, and

. the arm S, carrying the adjustable curved brush T, pivoted to theupper end of said lever, and suitable means for operating said vibratoryarms, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a boot or shoe blackin g machine, of thevibratory lever B, the rearwardly-extendingspring-controlled armS,pivoted to the upper end of said lever, and the curved brush T,composed of the two parts it and t, thelatter of which is arranged toswing upward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the reciprocating brush-carria ges, reversiblebrushes,and devices for locking the same in their ditferent positions,of the oscillating lever P, arranged to operate said locking devices,and provided with upper and lower projecting arms, and the swingingyoke, Q, provided with the arms Q, arranged to be operated to strikesaid projecting arms of the lever alternately.

S. The. combination,with the vibratory arms G and the other operativeparts connected therewith, of the fly-wheel, its pitman, and a springconnected with one of the vibratory arms and arranged to be caused bysaid arm to exert a lateral pressure upon said pitman as the wheelapproaches its dead-center points, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the platform and l foot-support, of thereversible reciprocating brushes composed of the two parts n and n,arranged at right angles to each other, said brushes having the bristlesat their adjacent corners shortened, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PAUL HILLE.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. NORRIS, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD.

